Low-energy transfer

A low-energy transfer, or low-energy trajectory, is a route in space that allows spacecraft to change orbits using significantly less fuel than traditional transfers. These routes work in the Earth–Moon system and also in other systems, such as between the moons of Jupiter. The drawback of such trajectories is that they take longer to complete than higher-energy (more-fuel) transfers, such as Hohmann transfer orbits. Low-energy transfers are also known as Weak Stability Boundary trajectories, and include ballistic capture trajectories. Low-energy transfers follow special pathways in space, sometimes referred to as the Interplanetary Transport Network. Following these pathways allows for long distances to be traversed for little change in velocity, or delta-v. Missions that have used low-energy transfers include: Hiten, from JAXA SMART-1, from ESA Genesis, from NASA. GRAIL, from NASA. Danuri from KARI On-going missions planned to use low-energy transfers include: BepiColombo, from ESA/JAXA CAPSTONE from NASA Proposed missions using low-energy transfers include: European Student Moon Orbiter (ESMO) Mars Direct Low-energy transfers to the Moon were first demonstrated in 1991 by the Japanese spacecraft Hiten, which was designed to swing by the Moon but not to enter orbit. The Hagoromo subsatellite was released by Hiten on its first swing-by and may have successfully entered lunar orbit, but suffered a communications failure. Edward Belbruno and James Miller of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory had heard of the failure, and helped to salvage the mission by developing a ballistic capture trajectory that would enable the main Hiten probe to itself enter lunar orbit. The trajectory they developed for Hiten used Weak Stability Boundary Theory and required only a small perturbation to the elliptical swing-by orbit, sufficiently small to be achievable by the spacecraft's thrusters. This course would result in the probe being captured into temporary lunar orbit using zero delta-v, but required five months instead of the usual three days for a Hohmann transfer.

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Hiten (spacecraft)

The Hiten spacecraft (ひてん, çiteɴ), given the English name Celestial Maiden and known before launch as MUSES-A (Mu Space Engineering Spacecraft A), part of the MUSES Program, was built by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science of Japan and launched on January 24, 1990. It was Japan's first lunar probe, the first robotic lunar probe since the Soviet Union's Luna 24 in 1976, and the first lunar probe launched by a country other than the Soviet Union or the United States.

Interplanetary Transport Network

The Interplanetary Transport Network (ITN) is a collection of gravitationally determined pathways through the Solar System that require very little energy for an object to follow. The ITN makes particular use of Lagrange points as locations where trajectories through space can be redirected using little or no energy. These points have the peculiar property of allowing objects to orbit around them, despite lacking an object to orbit. While it would use little energy, transport along the network would take a long time.

Gravity assist

A gravity assist, gravity assist maneuver, swing-by, or generally a gravitational slingshot in orbital mechanics, is a type of spaceflight flyby which makes use of the relative movement (e.g. orbit around the Sun) and gravity of a planet or other astronomical object to alter the path and speed of a spacecraft, typically to save propellant and reduce expense. Gravity assistance can be used to accelerate a spacecraft, that is, to increase or decrease its speed or redirect its path.

Space Mission Design and Operations

Covers spacecraft propulsion, interplanetary transfer, aerodynamic braking, and orbit insertion techniques in space missions.

Interplanetary Trajectories: Orbital Characteristics MOOC: Space Mission Design and Operations

Covers interplanetary trajectories, sphere of influence, and orbital characteristics of planets.

Space Mission Design and Operations EE-585: Space mission design and operations

Covers space mission design, spacecraft energy, orbits, and maneuvers, including gravity effects, tethers, and interplanetary trajectories.